Reversible motor controlled ironing machine



Sept. 28, 1965 H. BUCHNER 3,208,169

REVERSIBLE MOTOR CONTROLLED IRQNING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1965 5Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. fiA VS QIJ'CH/VER BY MJ.

Sept. 28, 1965 H. BUCHNER REVERSIBLE MOTOR CONTROLLED IRONING MACHINE 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 17, 1965 INVENTOR.

HA N5 ,9 JcHA yw'm A 7-7 mvs Y Sept. 28, 1965 H. BUCHNER REVERSIBLEMOTOR CONTROLLED IRONING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR. IVA/VS aim/fiver United States Patent 3,208,169 REVERSIBLEMOTOR CONTROLLED IRONING MAC'IHNE Hans Biichner, Karlsruhe-Durlach,Germany, assiguor to G. M. Pfaif AG, Kaiserslantern, Pfalz, Germany, acorporation of Germany Filed Mar. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 440,554 Claimspriority, application Germany, Mar. 23, 1964, P 33,889 16 Claims. (Cl.3861) The present invention relates to electric ironing machines, moreparticularly to machines of the type comprising an ironing or manglingdrum and an ironing pad or shoe cooperating therewith and includingoperating means controlled by a reversible electric motor, to operatesaid shoe between engaged or operative and disengaged or inoperativepositions with said drum and to rot-ate the latter, respectively.

According to one type of ironing machine of this type known in the art,the driving shafts for eifecting rotation of the ironing drum andoperation of the ironing shoe are disposed at a substantial distancefrom one another, whereby to result in a relatively longmotion-transmitting path between the common drive source, such aselectric motor, and said shafts, and in turn to require a considerablenumber of transimission devices, such as gears, linkage mechanisms andequivalent motion-transmitting means.

In order to provide greater compactness of the machine, it hasfurthermore been proposed to house the driving motor together with theoperating means for the ironing drum, the ironing shoe, as well as allthe requisite couplings and control devices, within the drum itself in afurther efiort to reduce the number of exterior projecting parts. Suchan arrangement or construction, while affording the attainment of utmostcompactness of the machine, has the disadvantages, among others, oflimited accessibility of the various construction parts, whereby toresult in relatively high manufacturing and assembly costs anddifllculties in exchanging defective parts, servicing of the machine, orthe making of repairs, in a manner readily understood.

Accordingly, an important object of the present invention is theprovision of an electric ironer of the referred to type which issubstantially devoid of the afore-mentioned and related defects anddisadvantages inherent in previously known ironing machines.

Among the more specific objects of the invention is the provision of anelectric ironing machine of the referred to type which is both simpleand compact in design by requiring a minimum of construction parts ordevices; which will afford easy and ready accessibility of its essentialoperating parts or elements, to facilitate the carrying out ofadjustments and making of repairs; which is substantially devoid ofcomplex and extended motiontransmitting means, in particular of linkagetype motiontransmitting mechanisms, subject to rapid wear ormisalignment; and which is both simple and economical in manufacture andmaintenance, as well as efiicient and reliable in operation.

The invention, both as to the foregoing and ancillary objects as well asnovel aspects thereof, will be better understood from the followingdetailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings forming part of this specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective assembly view of an electric ironing machine ofthe type referred to embodying operating mechanism constructed inaccordance with the principles of the invention, certain parts of theframe or suport and of the ironing shoe being shown in section forbetter illustration of the interior construction of the machine.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the ironing shoe and the controlmechanism of the machine of FIG. 1, including means for varying theironing pressure, the side of the motor driving the ironing drum beingshown in elevation;

FIG. 3 is a partial view more clearly illustrating the one-waycouplings, shown by way of example and connected to the projecting endsof the throughgoing motor shaft for the selective operation of theironing drum and shoe, respectively.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view through the ironing shoe and its rotarysupport or carrier mounted upon the frame of the machine; and

FIG. 5 is an electric wiring-diagram for effecting automatic operationof the ironer according to the invention by means of a single controlswitch.

Like reference numberals denote like parts or elements throughout thedifferent views of the drawings.

With the foregoing objects in view, the invention, according to one ofits aspects, involves essentially the pro vision, in connection with anelectric ironer of the referred to type, of a rotary ironing drum, adisplaceable ironing shoe fitted with means to operate the same intoengagement with and disengagement from said drum, a first drive shaftand a second drive shaft disposed relatively close to an parallel tosaid first shaft, and a reversible electric driving motor having athroughgoing motor shaft terminating in aligned first and second drivingshaft portions and being disposed at right angle to said first andsecond drive shafts for the opera-tion of the later each by way of oneof said shaft portions through suitable motion-transmitting ironing drumand shoe operating devices or mechanisms.

As a consequence, the drive shafts of the ironing drum and ironing shoemay be disposed at a minimum spacing distance from one another, limitedonly by the size or axial dimension of the driving motor, whereby toresult both in compactness of the complete driving and operatingmechanism of the machine and a minimum of construction parts or devicesrequired.

Each of the motor shaft driving portions is operably connected with itsassociated drive shaft through suitable motion-transmitting means, suchas in the form of gearing or relatively simple cam and followermechanisms, respectively. In order to afford selective operation of thedrive shafts or the ironing drum and shoe connected therewith,respectively, there are further provided, in accordance with theinvention, a pair of one-way coupling devices each interposed betweenone of the motor shaft portions and the associated motion-transmittingmeans, said couplings being designed to eifect driving connectionbetween the motor and the ironing shoe operating drive shaft duringrotation of the motor in a predetermined direction, and to effectdriving connection between the motor and the ironing drum rotating driveshaft during rotation of the motor in a direction opposite to saidpredetermined direction, respectively, whereby to enable a selectivecontrol and operation of said shoe and drum, in the manner as willbecome further apparent as the description proceeds.

The coupling of the motor shaft portions with the associatedmotion-transmitting means is effected advanta geously by way of a pairof worm gear drives comprising a driving worm upon each of the motorshaft portions meshing with a worm gear serving as input of theassociated motion-transmitting means. In an arrangement of this type,the motor together with both one-way coupling deivces and the drivingworms may be constructed as a unit or subassembly removably mounted uponthe frame or main support of the machine for the instant and expeditiousexchange or replacement of a faulty unit, or for the making ofadjustments and repairs.

In order to facilitate theoperation of the ironer and to improve itsoperating efiiciency and reliability, operation of the ironing shoe intoand out of engagement with the ironing drum and rotation of the latterin the engaged position is effected, according to a further feature ofthe invention, by the aid of a single electric control switch operablyconnected with the driving motor and associated electric circuit andcontrol means for the ironing shoe operating mechanism, in such a manneras to result in the predetermined sequence of operating steps requiredfor the carrying out of an ironing operation, aside from secondarycontrols such as the setting of the ironing temperature, or manualdisengagement of the shoe in the case of supply current failure or otheremergencies. As a consequence, the operator is called upon to perform aminimum of control operations, thus leaving her hands free for thefeeding and ironing of the work at hand, in a manner as will becomefurther apparent as the description proceeds in reference to thedrawings.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, the ironer shown comprises asupport or frame 1 including an upright 2 in which is journalled a driveshaft 3 carrying an ironing or mangling drum 4. Secured to the end ofshaft 3 projecting into the upright 2 is a gear 5 which meshes with afurther gear 6, the latter being secured to a shaft 7 also journalled inthe upright 2 and carrying a worm gear 8.

Item 9 represents the drive shaft of the operating mechanism of theironer being disposed at a predetermined dis- :tance from and parallelto the drive shaft 3 and journalled in the frame 1. Secured to one endof shaft 9 is a further worm gear 10. Disposed between the main driveshafts 3 and 9 and supported by an angular bracket 11, FIGS. 1 and 2, isthe driving motor 12 of the ironer, said motor being arranged in amanner as to have its drive shaft include a right angle with the axes ofdrive shafts 3 and 9,

as shown inthe drawing. Advantageously, the motor 12, together with thebracket 11 is removably secured to the upright 2 by means of mountingscrews 13 and spacing rings 14, FIG. 2, the purpose of which will becomeapparent as the description proceeds. The aligned ends 15 and 16, FIG.3, of the throughgoing motor shaft project from the opposite sides ofthe motor. The latter is of the reversible type for the purpose moreclearly described in the following in conjunction with the wiringdiagram of FIG. 5 and operation of the ironer.

Secured, by means of cross-pins 18, to each of the projecting motorshaft portions 15 and 16 is a driving coupling sleeve 17, FIG. 3.Further loosely mounted upon each of the shaft portions 15 and 16 is adriven sleeve 19 disposed in bores of a pair of driving worms 20, 21being in meshing engagement, respectively, with the worm gears 8 and andfitted with cylindrical extensions 22. The outer diameter of theextensions 22 is equal to the diameter of offset portions of the sleeves17. The ends of the worms 20, 21 opposite to the extensions 22 aresuitably journalled in brackets or bearings 23, FIG. 2, integral with orsecured to the main supporting bracket 11.

Mounted upon the offset ends of the driving sleeves 17 and cylindricalextensions 22 is a coupling coil spring 24 having an inner diameterwhich is somewhat less than the outer diameter of said sleeves andextensions. As a consequence, the springs 24 normally exert a slightpressure upon both the coupling elements 17 and 22. The inner ends ofeach of the springs 24 is bent angularly as at 25 with the bent endarranged to project into and engaging a bore in the adjoining couplingsleeve 17, to fixedly secure one of the ends of the springs. Elements17, 22 and spring 24 thus form a pair of one-way coupling devices 26 and27 for the rotation of the ironing drum and operation of the ironingshoe, respectively, in the manner described in greater detail in thefollowing.

in FIG. 1).

The design of the couplings 26 and 27 is such that with the motor 12rotating in a first predetermined direction, as indicated by the arrow Ain FIG. 1, coupling 26 is effective in actuating the iron shoe operatingmechanism by way of worm 20, worm gear 10 and shaft 9, while thecoupling 17 is ineffective or free-wheeling during this operation. Onthe other hand, during rotation of the motor in the opposite direction,as indicated by the arrow B in the drawing, coupling 27 becomeseffective in driving the mangling drum 4 by way of worm 21, worm gear 8,shaft 7, gears 6, 5 and shaft 3, while coupling 26 is ineffective orfree-wheeling during the latter operation.

While the one-way couplings 26 and 27 are shown in the form of coilspring locking and unlocking clutches, it will be understood that othertypes of .known one-way coupling devices may be employed for the purposeof the invention, such as ball or roller type or sprag couplings, or thelike free-wheeling coupling devices known in the art.

In the example shown, the driving motor 12 together with the couplings26, 27, and driving worms 20, 21 and the mounting bracket 11 forms anintegral construction unit or subassembly being removably mounted uponthe upright 2 with suitable distance or spacer rings 14 beinginterposed, to control the play between the worms 20, 21 and cooperatingworm gears 10, 8, respectively.

Cooperating with the mangling drum or roller 4 is an ironing shoe or pad29 fitted with electrical heating rods 28 and being mounted upon asupport or base 30 to which is further connected a work feeding plate ortable 31. Mounted within a depression of the table 31 is an adjustingknob 32 which serves to set a thermostat 34 through a flexible shaft 33for the control of the ironing temperature.

The base 30 of the ironing shoe 29 is secured, by means of bolts 35 andnuts 36, FIGS. 2 and 4, and through pres sure equalizing coil springs37, to an ironing shoe carrier 38. In order to operate the shoe 29 intoengagement with and disengagement from the drum 4, the carrier 38 isrotatively supported upon the frame or support 1 of the machine about ashaft or pivot 39.

The operating mechanism for the ironing shoe 29 comprises a double-armlever 40 rotatively supported upon the carrier 38 about a bolt or pivot42 secured to brackets or extensions 41 of said carrier (only one beingshown Both ends of the lever 40 are fitted with rollers 43 and 44,respectively, having rotary axes at right angle to one another. Roller43 engages an eccentric or cam 45 secured to the drive shaft 9, whileroller 44 engages the edge of a curved flange 46 provided at theperiphery of an adjusting disk 48 rotatively mounted upon the carrier 38about a bolt or pivot 47. A cup spring assembly 49 mounted upon the bolt47 serves to act as a brake to secure the disk 48, adjustable by the aidof a control handle 50, in any of its setting positions, to maintain adesired ironing pressure. Curve 46 is so designed that, starting fromthe position as shown in FIG. 1, rotation of the disk 48 by the handle50 about bolt 47 by about in anticlockwise direction results is theretraction of the shoe 29 from the drum 3 by a predetermined distancesuificient to enable withdrawal of a workpiece from the ironer.

Further provided, for the control of a switch 51 having contacts 52, 53,FIG. 5, operably connected with the motor circuit and the ironing shoeoperating mechanism, is an eccentric or cam disk 54 being mounted uponshaft 9 resiliently engaged through biasing spring 57 by a followerroller 56 disposed at one end of a switching lever 55 which serves toactuate the switch 51, in the manner described in greater detail in thefollowing.

The remaining electrical equipment of the ironer includes amultiple-contact main control switch 58, FIG. 5, which may be of thereturn-spring push button type and may be operated by means of a footpedal or the like, and which comprises a pair of fixed contacts 59, 60and cooperating contact arms or operating contacts, a relay 61 havingmultiple contact arms or armatures, 61a, 61b and tile. Relay contact arm61a, cooperates with a fixed contact 65, relay contact arm 61bcooperates with a pair of fixed contacts 66, 67, and relay contact arm61c cooperates with a pair of fixed contacts 68, 69. In order to operatethe motor 12, which may be a commercially available reversiblesingle-phase induction motor having operating windings 73 and 74 and aphase-shifting capacitor 72 as shown in the drawing, in the direction ofthe arrow A, FIG. 1, operating current is applied by way of motorterminal 7 ti, and in order to operate the motor in the direction of thearrow B, operating current is applied by way of the motor terminal 71,respectively. As will be understood, any other type of reversibleelectric motor having forward and reverse windings may be used for thepurpose of the in vention.

In the following will be described the operation of the ironer shown bythe drawings and described in the foregoing.

Let it be assumed that the ironing shoe 29, together with its base 39and carrier 38 is in the disengaged (starting) position with respect tothe drum 4, in which case the roller 56 of the switch 55 engages point54a of the cam 54, to thereby close switch contacts 52. In other words,in the inoperative or starting position of the ironer, the cam 54, FIG.5, must be assumed rotated by 180 in respect to the position shown inthe drawing. Furthermore, under this condition of the ironer, the relay61 is deenergized, that is, contact arm 61:: is in the open position,contact arm 61!) engages contact 67, contact arm 61c engages contact 69,control switch 58 is in the normal or inoperative position indicated byI in the drawing, and switch contacts 59 are closed, as shown in FIG. 5.

At first the desired ironing temperature is adjusted by the setting ofthe thermostat 34 through control knob 32 and flexible shaft 33.

The desired ironing pressure is then adjusted by operation of thecontrol disk 48 about bolt 37 and by the aid of the handle 50. The cupspring or springs 49 acting as a brake serve to secure the adjustingposition against undesired rotation.

In order to operate the shoe 29 into operative position or engagementwith the drum 4, contacts 60 of the control switch 58 are briefly closedby depression of the switch actuating member, whereby to reiease theswitch to return to the normal position I by the action of return spring58'. As a consequence of the temporary closing of contacts 61), relay 61will be energized by way of the closed contacts 52 of switch 51, wherebyto result in the relay contact arm 61a engaging contact 65, in contactarm 61b engaging contact 66 and in contact arm 61c engaging contact 68.As a consequence, the motor 12 is energized by way of the terminal 7 0and rotated in the direction of the arrow A, FIG. 1. The relay 61remains energized, despite the re-opening of the contacts 61 by aholding circuit including the contact arm 61a and the closed contacts 52of switch 51. In other words, the switch 58 may be released afterinitial depression, to start an ironing operation, whereupon contacts 60are re-opened and contacts 59 closed preparatory to the reversal of themotor rotation upon reaching of the engaged position by the shoe 29, inthe manner further described in the following.

While the motor 12, FIG. 1, thus rotates in the direction of the arrowA, the coupling spring 24 engaging the driving sleeve 17 and theextension 22 of the worm is deformed in the sense of decreasing coildiameter by the shaft portion 15 and the action of the end 25 of thespring engaging the sleeve 17 or, in other words, the spring 24 istightened or Wound upon the outer surfaces of sleeve 17 and extension 22of the worm 20, to thereby establish frictional driving connectionbetween the motor shaft portion 15 and the worm 20, as indicated by thearrow A in the drawing. At the same time, the coupling spring engagingthe driving sleeve 17 and extension 22 of the worm 2 at the opposite endof the motor shaft is deformed in the sense of increasing coil diameteror unwound from the sleeve 17 and extension 22 of worm 2, whereby tocause the shaft end 16 to freewheel or be decoupled from the worm 21 andassociated motion-transmitting mechanism.

As a consequence, drive shaft 9 together with the earns 45 and 54 isrotated by Way of the worm 20 and worm gear 10, whereby to cause thecarrier 38 together with the base 39 and ironing shoe 2? to rotate, byway of lever 40, about the shaft or pivot 39 and to operate the shoe 29into engagement with the drum 4. During the latter operation, thecontacts 52 of the switch 51 remain closed due to the shape of the camor eccentric 54 having a circumferential surface of constant radius overa substantially 180 range as shown. Shortly before reaching the engagedor operative position by the shoe 29, roller 56 leaves theafore-mentioned cam surface to engage the remaining cam section ofreduced radius, whereby to open the contacts 52 of the switch 51, tode-energize the relay 61 and to cause the contact arms 61a, 61b and 61cto assume the positions as shown in FIG. 5. As a consequence, the motorenergizing circuit is interrupted in the engaged or operative positionof the shoe 29, in which position the roller 56 engages point 54b of thecam 54 and contacts 53 of switch 51 are closed. As a consequence, thereis established a second motor energizing circuit by way of contacts 59,69, 61c, 53, 61b, 67 and motor terminal 71, thereby initiating rotationof the motor 12 in the opposite direction, as indicated by the arrow Bin the drawing.

During rotation of the motor 12 in the direction B, the coil spring 24engaging the coupling sleeve 17 and extension 22 of the worm 21 isdeformed in the sense of decreasing coil diameter by the motor shaftportion 16 and the action of the end 25 of the spring secured to thesleeve 17 or in other words, the spring is wound upon the outer surfacesof said sleeve and extension of the worm 21, whereby to apply a rotaryforce to said worm, as indicated by the arrow B. At the same time, thespring 24 mounted upon the coupling sleeve 17 and extension 22 of theworm 20 is acted upon by the motor shaft portion 15 in a sense ofincreasing coil diameter, whereby to decouple the worm 20 from the motorand to arrest the ironing shoe operating mechanism. As a consequence,drive shaft 7 together with gear 6 is rotated by way of worm gear 8meshing with worm 21, whereby to in turn rotate the ironing drum 4 byway of gear 5 meshing with gear 6.

If it is desired to temporarily interrupt rotation of the ironing drum 4in the engaged or operative position, switch 58 is operated to anauxiliary position II intermediate the normal position I and the mainoperative position III, to interrupt the motor energizing circuit. Inthe position II of the switch, contacts 59 and 60 are opened, whereby tode-energize and arrest the motor 12. Upon release of the switch 58,contacts 59 are again closed, whereby to continue rotation of the motorand drum 4, in a manner readily understood.

In order, in the case of supply current failure or the like emergencies,to enable retraction of the shoe 29 from the drum 4 to an extentsufiicient for the withdrawal of the work from the ironer, the adjustingdisk 48 is rotated by the aid of handle 50 in anticlockwise direction toan extent (about to cause the roller 44 of lever to engage the lowermostpoint of the cam surface 46. Upon rectification of the disturbance, disk48 may be returned to the normal or starting position shown in thedrawing.

In the following will be further described the control of the ironingpressure by means of the adjusting disk 48.

Carrier 38 of the ironing shoe 29, being pivoted at 39 engages the cam45 by the action of its own weight or gravity and by way of the roller43, lever 46 and cam disk 48. Rotation of the latter by means of thehandle 50 in clockwise direction results in a decrease of the spacingdistance between the drum 4 and carrier 38 or reference to a specificillustrative device.

shoe e.g., in the inoperative or disengaged position of the shoe. If thelatter is then operated into engagement with the drum 4 by the cam 45,the springs 37 will be compressed to an extent proportional to theinitial spacing distance between the shoe and drum determined by theadjustment of the disk 48, whereby to result in a corresponding ironingor operating pressure between said shoe and drum.

On the other hand, rotation of the disk 48 in anticlockwise directionwill result in an increase of the distance between the drum 4 and shoe29, whereby to reduce the ironing pressure provided by the springs inthe engaged position of the shoe in a manner readily understood. By theproper design of the camming surface or curve 46, it is thus possible,starting from a minimum pressure in the normal position with the handle50 at right angle to the drum 4, FIG. 1, to increase the pressure up toa maximum by rotation of the handle in one direction to a maximumposition substantially parallel to the drum 4, and to effectdisengagement of the shoe 19 from the drum 4 by operation of the handle50 in the opposite direction to a position parallel to the drum 4 insuch a manner as to enable withdrawal of the work from the ironer. Aswill be understood, adjustment of the ironing pressure in the mannerdescribed may be carried out both in the disengaged or inoperativeposition as Well as in the engaged or operative position of the ironingshoe 29.

In order, furthermore, to enable an automatic disengagement orretraction of the shoe 29 from the drum 4, switch 58 is briefly operatedor depressed to the position 111, whereby to open at first the contacts59 and to arrest the motor. Subsequently, contacts 60 are closed, whereby to energize the relay 61 and to cause arm 61a to engage contact 65,to cause arm 61b to engage contact 66, and to cause arm 610 to engagecontact 68. Relay 61 is held in energized condition by a holding circuitincluding contact arms 61b and 610, whereby the motor 12 is energized byway of terminal 70 so as to start rotation in the direction of the arrowA. As a consequence, Worm 20,

worm gear and drive shaft 9, together with the cams 45 and 54, aredriven by way of the motor shaft end 15 and one-way coupling 26, wherebyto cause rotation of the shoe 29 away from the drum 4 through the actionof lever 40 cooperating with the cam 45.

Shortly before reaching the inoperative or retracted position, that is,after about one half revolution of the cam 45, contacts 53 of switch 51are opened by the cam surface of 54, while at the same time closing thecon tacts 52. During the latter operating period, the relay 61 releasesits contact arms, whereby to de-energize and return the system to itsinoperative or starting position.

During the retraction of the ironing shoe, the eccentric 45 is subjectedto the action of the gradually relaxed springs 27. As a result of theeccentricity, the eccentric 45 is further subjected to a reaction torqueby the worm 20, whereby undesirable impulse loads on the shoe 29 areavoided. The reaction torque on the eccentric 45 is provided by the wormgear 10, having a pitch to pro vide an adequate self-locking effect.

For certain purposes and ironing operations it is desirable toalternately operate the ironing shoe into and out of engagement with thedrum 4. This operation is enabled by the invention in a simple manner bykeeping the switch 58 in the depressed or operative position III,whereby the shoe 29 together with its base 30 and carrier 38 issubjected to an independent periodic oscillating or swivelling motion,in a manner readily understood from the foregoing.

In the foregoing the invention has been described in It will be evident,however, that variations and modifications, as well as the substitutionof equivalent parts and elements for those shown and disclosed forillustration, may be made in accordance with the broader scope andspirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Thespecification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in anillustrative rather than in a restrictive sense.

I claim:

1. An ironing machine comprising in combination:

(1) a support,

(2) an ironing drum,

(3) a first drive shaft journalled in said support, to

rotate said drum,

(4) an ironing shoe displaceably mounted upon said support forcooperation with said drum,

(5 a second drive shaft journalled in said support parallel to saidfirst shaft,

(6) operating mechanism connecting said second drive shaft with saidshoe, to operate said shoe between positions of engagement with anddisengagement from said drum during alternate half revolutions,respectively, of said second drive shaft,

(7) a reversible electric motor having a throughgoing motor drive shaftterminating in aligned first and second projecting shaft portions andarranged at right angle to said first and second drive shafts,

(8) first motion-transmitting means operably connecting said first shaftportion and said first drive shaft,

(9) second motion-transmitting means operably connecting said secondshaft portion and said second drive shaft, and

(10) one-way coupling means intervening between each of said shaftportions and the associated motion-transmitting means,

(11) said coupling means designed to effect driving connection inopposite directions in respect to a predetermined direction of rotationof said motor, whereby to cause rotation of either of said drive shaftsby rotation of said motor in a corresponding direction.

2. In an ironing machine as claimed in claim 1, including an electriccontrol switch having a normal position and an operative position, andelectric circuit and control means for said motor operably connectedwith said switch and said mechanism, to start said motor in apredetermined direction to operate said shoe into engagement with saiddrum through said second motion-transmitting means, and to subsequentlyarrest and re-start said motor in the reverse direction to saidpredetermined direction, to rotate said drum through said firstmotiontransmitting means, by operation of said switch from said normalto said operative position.

3. In an ironing machine as claimed in claim 2, said switch providedwith means to resiliently urge the same to said normal position, andmeans to establish a holding energizing circuit of said mo'tor uponinitial operation and release of said switch.

4. In an ironing machine as claimed in cliam 2, said switch providedwith means to resiliently urge the same to said normal position, andadditional control means to interrupt the motor operating circuit duringthe motor operation in said reverse direction by operation of saidswitch to an auxiliary operative position intermediate said normal andfirst operative positions.

5. In an ironing machine as claimed in claim 2, said siwtch providedwith means to resiliently urge the same to said normal position and saidcircuit and control means being designed to start said motor in apredetermined direction by the establishment of a first motor operatingcircuit upon operation of said switch from said normal position to saidoperative position to continue rotation of said motor upon initialdisplacement of said shoe and release of said switch by theestablishment of a second operating circuit, and to arrest and re-s-tartsaid motor in the reverse direction to said predetermined direction bythe establishment of a third operating circuit upon said shoe reachingthe engaged position with said drum.

6. In an ironing machine as claimed in claim 5, including additionalcontrol means to temporarily interrupt said third operating circuit byoperation of said switch to an auxiliary operative position intermediatesaid normal and said first operative positions,

7. In an ironing machine as claimed in claim 1, each of saidmotion-transmitting means including a worm gear drive operablyconnecting the same with the respective motor shaft portions.

8. In an ironing machine as claimed in claim 1, each of said couplingmeans being comprised of a pair of rotatable coupling members havingadjoining and aligned cylindrical surfaces, and a coil springresiliently engaging both said surfaces and having one end connected toone of said members, whereby to effect coupling of the driving member bythe driven member in a direction depending upon the direction ofrotation of the driving coupling member.

9. In an ironing machine as claimed in claim 1, including a carrier forsaid shoe pivotally mounted upon said support, said operating mechanismbeing comprised of a control cam carried by said second drive shaft andcam follower means upon said carrier engaging said cam.

19. In an ironing machine as claimed in claim 9, including resilientsupporting means intervening between said carrier and said shoe, todetermine the operating pressure between said shoe and drum in theengaged position.

11. In an ironing machine as claimed in claim 9, including resilientsupporting means intervening between said carrier and said shoe, andmeans to adjust the spacing distance between said drum and said shoe inthe disengaged position, to control the ironing pressure in the engagedpositon of said drum and shoe by varying compression of said resilientmeans.

12. In an ironing machine as claimed in claim 9, including resilientsupporting means intervening between said carrier and said shoe, meansto adjust the spacing distance between said drum and shoe in thedisengaged position, to control the ironing pressure in the engagedposition of said drum and shoe by varying compression of said resilientmeans, said last means consisting of said cam follower means beingcomprised of a double-arm lever pivoted upon said carrier and having oneend arranged to engage said control cam, and a further cam mounted uponsaid carrier and arranged to engage the opposite end of said lever.

13. In an ironing machine as claimed in claim 1, each of saidmotion-transmitting means including a Worm gear drive having a drivingworm upon the respective motor shaft portions, and means whereby saidmotor and the associated worms and one-way coupling means form anintegral constructional unit removably mounted upon said support.

14. An ironing machine comprising in combination:

(1) a rotary ironing drum,

(2) a displaceable ironing shoe including operating means to displacethe same into engagement with and disengagement from said drum,respectively,

(3) a first drive shaft,

(4) a second drive shaft parallel to said first shaft,

(5) a reversible electric motor having a throughgoing drive shaftterminating in aligned first and second projecting shaft portions anddisposed at right angle to said first and second drive shafts,

(6) first and second motion-transmitting means operably connecting saidfirst and second motor shaft portions with said first and second driveshafts, to rotate said drum and to operate said shoe, respectively, and

(7) one-way coupling means intervening between each of said motor shaftportions and the associated motion-transmitting means and designed toeffect driving connection between said motor in a predetermineddirection and to eiiect driving connection between said motor and saidsecond drive shaft during rotation of said motor in a direction oppositeto said predetermined direction.

15. In an ironing machine as claimed in claim 14-, including an electriccontrol switch having a normal position and an operative position, andelectric circuit and control means for said motor operably connectedwith said switch and said ironing shoe operating means, to start saidmotor in a predetermined direction and to operate said shoe intoengagement with said drum and to subsequently arrest and re-start saidmotor in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, to rotatesaid drum, by operation of said switch from said normal position to saidoperative position.

16. In an ironing machine as claimed in claim 14, each of saidmotion-transmitting means including a worm gear drive having a drivingworm upon the respective motor shaft portions, and means whereby saidmotor and the associated worms and one-way coupling means form anintegral constructional unit removably mounted upon said support.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,683,319 7/54Bickell et a1. 38-6l JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

1. AN IRONING MACHINE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (1) A SUPPORT, (2) ANIRONING DRUM, (3) A FIRST DRIVE SHAFT JOURNALLED IN SAID SUPPORT, TOROTATE SAID DRUM, (4) AN IRONING SHOE DISPLACEABLE MOUNTED UPON SAIDSUPPORT FOR COOPERATION WITH SAID DRUM, (5) A SECOND DRIVE SHAFTJOURNALLED IN SAID SUPPORT PARALLEL TO SAID FIRST SHAFT, (6) OPERATINGMECHANISM CONNECTING SAID SECOND DRIVE SHAFT WITH SAID SHOE, TO OPERATESAID SHOE BETWEEN POSITIONS OF ENGAGEMENT WITH AND DISENGAGEMENT FROMSAID DRUM DURING ALTERNATE HALF REVOLUTIONS, RESPECTIVELY, OF SAIDSECOND DRIVE SHAFT, (7) A REVERSIBLE ELECTRIC MOTOR HAVING ATHROUGHGOING MOTOR DRIVE SHAFT TERMINATING IN ALIGNED FIRST AND SECONDPROJECTING SHAFT PORTIONS AND ARRANGED AT RIGHT ANGLE TO SAID FIRST ANDSECOND DRIVE SHAFTS, (8) FIRST MOTION-TRANSMITTING MEANS OPERABLYCONNECTING SAID FIRST SHAFT PORTION AND SAID FIRST DRIVE SHAFT, (9)SECOND MOTION-TRANSMITTING MEANS OPERABLY CONNECTING SAID SECOND SHAFTPORTION AND SAID SECOND DRIVE SHAFT, AND (10) ONE-WAY COUPLING MEANSINTERVENING BETWEEN EACH OF SAID SHAFT PORTIONS AND THE ASSOCIATEDMOTION-TRANSMITTING MEANS, (11) SAID COUPLING MEANS DESIGNED TO EFFECTDRIVING CONNECTION IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS IN RESPECT TO A PREDETERMINEDDIRECTION OF ROTATION OF SAID MOTOR, WHEREBY TO CAUSE ROTATION OF EITHEROF SAID DRIVE SHAFTS BY ROTATION OF SAID MOTOR IN A CORRESPONDINGDIRECTION.